Grand Canyon to pay tribute to Oscar Frayer before playing Western New Mexico on Saturday – The Arizona Republic

Grand Canyon's men's basketball team returns to pre-COVID normalcy in its arena Saturday night against Western New Mexico.

There will be a full house, the frenzied, electric atmosphere created by the students known as the "Havocs."

And there will likely be some tears shed before the game when a tribute video will be played to honor former player Oscar Frayer, who died March 23 in a fiery car crash in northern California, three days after he blocked three shots and scored eight points in GCU's loss to Iowa in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Frayer, who returned for his final season last year after missing the 2019-20 season, will always be remembered by his teammates and coaches and the newcomers who have heard stories about the athletic, charismatic forward.

"He's done a lot for this school, so it's good that they are honoring him," said forward Sean Miller-Moore, who was Frayer's roommate last season when the Antelopes made school history, becoming the first team to reach the NCAA Tournament.

Miller-Moore said Frayer's passion carried over to the kind of player he has become.

"How joyful he was, and how passionate he was," Miller-Moore said. "When he was on the court, he was always working hard. Every time I'm on the floor, I'm remembering him, no matter what."

Coach Bryce Drew, now in his second year leading the Antelopes, said that Saturday is going to be a celebration of Frayer's life.

"Honoring him with the team and what he helped accomplish," Drew said. "When I look down at his jersey (number 4), I'll have some sadness but I'llalso have a smile in my heart knowing what he's accomplished in his life."

This will be Drew's and most of the players' first full Havocs experience. They got a glimpse of the noise level during Midnight Madness, when students packed the arena. But this is now in a game situation.

Last year, with COVID-19 restrictions, GCU was grateful to have some fans spread out among cardboard cutouts. As the season wound down, more than 2,000 students were let into games, which still created a great college basketball atmosphere.

Now the noise level figures to be off the charts, especially after that full crowd couldn't be heard for a year-and-a-half. During Thursday's practice, Drew had noise piped in over the PA system at times.

"Trying to make them realize how loud they're going to have to talk during the games," Drew said.

After practice, the players got to see their new locker room that includes a lounge and massage chairs. There also is a new weight room near steps from the locker room and an expanded trainer's room.

That excited them.

Since the spring, they weren't able to shower at the arena, because of remodeling going on. They would have to go back to their dorms to shower.

Thursday's practice was attended by Bryce's father, Homer Drew, the former great Valparaiso coach, who led his small Indiana team to a first-round NCAA shocking win over Mississippi on son Drew's memorable 3-point buzzer beater in 1998. Homer said he will be attending Saturday's game.

Drew wasn't ready to say what his starting lineup will be for Western New Mexico, but said he's comfortable with a number of players.

It could be fun watching local guys, Jovan Blacksher Jr., and Holland Woods II, in the backcourt together for the first time. Blacksher was the MVP of the WAC Tournament last year. Woods transferred in from Arizona State, where he played in every game last season for the Sun Devils, who were bitten by injuries.

"We might see different starting lineups," Drew said. "There's a lot of versatility. I don't see a set starting lineup. I see lots of guys that will play first half and second half, see how it goes."

Miller-Moore, who played a key role off the bench last season, said this a close team, even with seven newcomers, including former ASU forward Taeshon Cherry.

"We all love each other," Miller-Moore said. "We're so close as a team already."

To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.comor 602-316-8827. Follow him on Twitter @azc_obert.

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Grand Canyon to pay tribute to Oscar Frayer before playing Western New Mexico on Saturday - The Arizona Republic